Egg-case.



PATENTED OCT. 4, 1994.

H. C. JOHNSON.

EGG- OASE.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov.28,19o3.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

NO MODEL.

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A! iorney.

UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

HOLLAND C. J OHNSGN, OF MOGRAVV, NEW YORK-- EGG-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,798, dated October4, 1904.

Application filed November 28, 1903. Serial No. 182,951. (No model.)

useful Improvements in Egg-Cases, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and ex-vact description.

This invention relates to improvements in egg-cases similar to that setforth in my pending application, Serial No. 17 0,834, iiled August 26,1903, except that the whole device in this instance is made up from asingle piece or sheet of heavy paper, cardboard, or similarcomparatively inexpensive material.v

The object is to cut, score, and fold a piece of cardboard so as to formsubstantially two carriers, each containing a definite number ofpockets-in this instance sixfor receiving and inclosing the eggs andprotecting the same in storage or transportation, so that the eggs maybe packed by the producer in separate cases or lots of one dozen eachwithout waste of space and may be stored or transported in thiscondition and finally retailed in dozen or half-dozen lots to theconsumer without removal of the eggs from the holders, thus expeditingthe work of counting and rendering it more accurate and avoiding much ofthe breakage.

In the drawings, Figures l and 2 are perspective views of one of myimproved eggcases, shown as completely folded for storage ortransportation in Fig. 1 and as partially unfolded in Fig. 2 forinspecting and exhibiting the eggs. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional viewstaken, respectively, on lines 3 3, Fig. 1, and 4 4, Fig. Q. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of one-half of the case seen in Figs. 1 and 2, showingparticularly the manner of collapsing the sides so as to occupy aminimum space in shipping or storing the empty cases. Fig.

6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan of thedetached blank for forming the case seen in Figs. l to 4, inclusive.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

This egg-case is formed from a single sheet of thick paper or cardboard,which is cut, as v vseen in Fig. 7, to form a substantially rectangularcentral body 1 and opposite similar end extensions 2 and 2'. The centralor main body is of sufficient length to form the bottom, opposite sides,and top of two envelops or holders a and of tubular form, rectangular incross-section and of sufiicient width to receive a definite number, asone half-dozen eggs, arranged side by side in close proximity, whileeach of the extensions 2 -2' projects from the adjacent end of the mainbody a distance substantially equal to the combined width of the top andone of the sides of the envelop or holder.

The main body 1 is formed with a central transverse crease or score 8,which is disposed midway between and parallel with the end edges of theblank at right angles to its longitudinal edges and forms the line ofjunction between the two envelops or holders, which fold and unfold, asseen in Figs. 1 and 2 and also in Figs. 3 and 4. The part or half of themain body at one side of the central crease or score 3 is provided withtransverse parallel creases or scores 4, 5, and 6, which divide saidhalf into suitable spaces 7, 8, 9, and 10, forming the bottom, sides,and top of one of the holders, while the other half ofthe main body isprovided with similar transverse parallel creases 4', 5', and 6', thusdividing it into spaces 7', 8', 9', and 10', which form the bottom,sides, and top of the other holder. The score-lines 4', 5', and 6 arelocated, respectively, the same distances from one side of the centerscore 3 as the score-lines 4, 5, and 6 are from the opposite side ofsaid score 3, and therefore the spaces 7, 8, 9, and 10 are equal to thecorresponding spaces 7', 8', 9', and 10. The spaces or bottoms 7 land 7'andthe tops or spaces 10 and 10' are equal to each other, and the spacesor sides 8 and 9 and 8' and 9' are also equal, and therefore the holdersa and Z) when folded are rectangular in cross-section, the sides being atriiie wider than the bottoms and tops to conform to the difference inthe lengths of the long and short axes of the eggs.

The extensions 2 and 2' each project a distance substantially equal tothe combined width of the bottom, as 7, and one of the sides,

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as 8, and is creased or scored at its junction with the main body and isalso provided with a parallel crease or score 11 and 11' a distance fromthe main body equal to the width of one of the spaces, as the bottom 7or 7 ','thereby forming parts 12 and 12', and it follows that the widthsof the remaining spaces 13 and 13' are equal to each other and to one ofthe sides, as 8, of one of the holders. The parts 12 and 12' are shorterthan the width of the main body, and the junctions with the main bodyand also with the parts 13 and 13' are slit inwardly from the ends at 14and also at intervals between the ends, as at 15, to form flaps 16, inthis instance 4, the outer end of the two intermediate flaps of eachextension being detached by transverse slits 17, and these flapsconstitute the partitions which form the intermediate pockets c of theprojections 18 and 18' at the ends of the parts 13 and 13' beyond thelongitudinal edges of the main body and providing each -projection withparallel creases or scores 19, in this instance four, the inner onebeing in line with the longitudinal edges of the main body, so that whenthe projections are folded upon these creases orscores they each form arectangular pocket e to complete the series of six for each holder, theends of said projection being passed through slots 20 in the parts 13and 13' and locked to hold the end pockets in form. The iiaps are unitedat one end or edge to the parts 12 and 12', which form the supplementaltops to their respective holders and are of such lengths as to extendnearly to the bottom of the holder when folded.

The opposite ends of the parts or sides 9 and 9' at the ends of the mainbody of the blank are extended beyond the longitudinal edges of saidmain body to form locking-ilaps 21, which in forming the holders arefolded over upon the sides 8 and 8', and the free ends are inserted inslots 22 in the parts 13 and 13' to secure the adjacent Walls togetherand prevent their spreading or unfolding.

In forming the case the projections 18 and 18' are folded on theirrespective scores to form the end pockets, and their ends are locked inthe slots 20, after which the parts 13 and 13' are folded at theirjunctions with and at right angles to the parts 12 and 12', the innerend walls of the end pockets being now in line with the outer ends ofthe outer flaps 16. The parts 12 and 12' are then folded at theirjunction with and at right angles to the main body, so that the endpockets rest upon the parts 9 and 9', and these latter parts 9 and 9'are then folded toward each other on the lines 6 and 6' at right anglesto the bottoms 7 and 7', thus bringing one open end of each of the endpockets upon their respective bottoms 7 and 7'. These bottoms are nowfolded toward each other upon the lines 5 and 5', thereby bringing theparts 13 and 13' onto close contact with similar sides 8 and 8', re-

spectively, so that the slots 23 and 22y of each holder are brought intoregistration, whereupon the locking-naps 21 are folded across the endsof their` respective holders and upon the sides 8 and 8', and their freeends are inserted in the alined slots 22 and 23 to lock the sides 8 and8' to the parts 13 and v13'. 'The' holders a and b are then folded backon center line 3 until the sides 8 and 8' come close together, whichbrings the holders right side up, with the open ends of the pocketsuppermost, the flaps 16 being folded downwardly toward the bottoms 7 and7' to further divide the space between the sides into egg-receivingcompartments for filling and vending, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The eggsare now placed in the compartments or pockets of each holder, afterwhich the sides 8 and 8' are folded outwardly and' upwardly at rightangles upon the lines 4 and 4' to bring the open ends of thecompartments of each holder against the tops l() and 10', thus holdingthe eggs in place, and the holders are then again folded at right anglesupon the center line 3, thus bringing the sides 9 and 9' into contact,the case containing a dozen eggs being now complete, as seen in Figs. 1and 3, for shipping or storage.

It is apparent that these cases may be packed in a crate or otherreceptacle for storage or transportation and that they may be removedseparately and the eggs retailed therein in dozen lots, or the case maybe severed on the line 3 and the eggs Vsold in eachlholder in one-half-dozen lots, thereby obviating the necessity for removing or countingthe eggs from the time they are rst packed to the time they areretailed.

It is sometimes desired to first form the cases for sale and shipmentwithoutthe eggs, and in this instance it is necessary to reduce thebulk, and I therefore crease or score the parts 7 and 7' and 12 and 12'centrally at 26 and 27 and parallel with the central score 3, and alsoscore the extensions 18 and 21 transversely at 30 and 31, so that whenthe holders are formed and extended with the open sides of the pocketsfacing each other the sides may be pressed toward each other to occupy aminimum flat space.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secu reby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. An egg-holder consisting of a single sheet of paper or cardboardcreased and folded midway between its ends, each half of the sheethaving parallel creases or scores dividing it into a number of partswhich are folded and form a rectangular tube, the opposite ends of oneof the parts of each half being extended and folded into the form of arectangular pocket Within the tube.

2. An egg-holder consisting of a single sheet of paper or cardboardfolded midway between its ends, each half having parallel creases or IOOIOS

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scores dividing it into six parts which are folded into a rectangulartube, the ends of one of the parts of each half being extended in thedirection of the creases, and the extensions creased transversely andfolded into rectangular pockets within the tube.

3. An egg-holder consisting of a single sheet of paper or cardboardfolded midway between its ends, each half having parallel creases orscores dividing it into six parts which are folded into a rectangulartube, the ends of one of the parts of each half being extended in thedirection of the creases, and the extensions creased transversely andfolded into rectangular pockets within the tube and the adjacent part ofeach half being cut to form flaps which are folded across the interiorof the tube and constitute partitions dividing said interior intocompartments.

4C. An egg-holder comprising a slngle sheet of paper or cardboardcreased or scored mid-` way between its ends and dividing it intohalves, each half having parallel creases or scores dividing it into anumber of parts forming the bottom, sides and top of a rectangular tube,one of the parts only of each half being cut to form a series of flapswhich are folded inwardly into the tube and constitute partitionsdividing said tube into compartments for receiving the eggs.

5. An egg-holder consisting of a single piece of paper or cardboardfolded midway between its ends, each half being creased or scored andfolded into the form of a rectangular tube, one of the parts of eachtube being shorter than the othersand cut to form a series of fiapswhich are folded within the tube forming partitions and dividing theinterior of the tube into a series of compartments for the individualeggs, and extensions on the ends of one of the parts of each tube foldedto form end pockets.

6. An egg-case consisting of a single sheet of paper or cardboard havinga central crease or score dividing the sheet into halves, each halfhaving a series of creases or scores parallel with the central score anddividing it into six parts, four of which form the bottom sides and topof a rectangular tube, one of the remaining two parts of each half beingslit 5o and being shorter than the others and cut to form fiaps orpartitions which are folded inwardly and divide the tube intocompartments to receive the eggs and the other of said two remainingparts forming an additional side piece to partially support the partfrom which the partitions are formed and provided with end extensions toform egg-compartments at the end of the rectangular tube.

7. An egg-case comprising two four-sided tubes united to each other, twoof the opposite sides of each tube being creased lengthwise midwaybetween the other sides, portions of one of the sides of each tube beingcut and folded into the tube to form transverse partitions andegg-compartments, and extensions on the ends of one of the sides of eachtube folded to form the end pockets of said tubes.

8. The herein-described blank for an eggcase, the same consisting of asingle sheet of paper or cardboard cut, creased and scored to form apair of rectangular tubes and having projecting flaps at the ends foldedinto the ends of the tubes to form egg-pockets.

9. The herein-described blank for forming an egg-case, said blankconsisting of a sheet of paper or cardboard creased or scored midwaybetween its ends for dividing it into two symmetrical parts, each partbeing creased or scored in parallel lines to form sides, top and bottomof the two rectangular tubes, the portions forming the top and bottombeing creased midway between the side portions each top formed with aseries of fiaps for forming partitions for the tubes, the portions forforming one of the sides of each tube being formed with flaps at theiropposite ends, while the opposite side of each tube is formed withslits, the flaps having locking members at their extremities adapted tointerlock with the slits.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofNovember, 1903.

HOLLAND O. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. DUNBAR, G. H. MARIDE.

